UWM NEWS A PERIOD OF EXTRAORDINARY CHANGE The announcement from Chancellor Mark Mone came on March 10: UWM was extending spring break from one week to two and moving spring classes online, at least temporarily, as public health worries about COVID-19 mounted. A UWM Foundation employee still awaited the results of a COVID-19 test, which would come back negative. UWM had been solidifying its contingency plans since midJanuary. As the growing threat of COVID-19 came into focus, UWM’s Infectious Disease Preparedness Team convened. “The health of our students, faculty and staff is a top priority at UWM,” wrote Julie Bonner, campus health officer and executive director of the Norris Health Center, in a campus message on Jan. 25. Four days earlier, Washington state had confirmed the first COVID-19 case in the United States. As UWM’s spring semester unfolded, so too did several extraordinary developments that came at breakneck speed. These were communicated and questions were answered through email, social media and a new website, uwm.edu/coronavirus. By March 17, most UWM employees were working from home as campus access was strictly limited to essential employees. In the weeks that followed, online instruction was extended for the rest of the semester and in-person spring commencement ceremonies were postponed.
UWM COVID-19 TIMELINE
MARCH 13
JANUARY 25
Campus health officer Julie Bonner says UWM is monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19. UWM’s Infectious Disease Preparedness Team had begun meeting in mid-January.
“I think we came very quickly to the realization of the magnitude of this crisis,” Provost Johannes Britz said during one of several virtual town halls hosted by campus leadership. “We were able to make a number of key decisions very quickly.” Faculty and staff worked tirelessly during the extended spring break period to move more than 6,000 courses online while canceling only 37 classes. Thousands of students quickly moved out of their residence halls, and staff made accommodations for those who had nowhere else to go. Students adapted to full-time remote learning while juggling finances and family responsibilities at home. The process was not always smooth. With many students struggling with job losses, alumni and members of the campus community donated money, computers and food to help those in need. Extra academic help was made available to students. And as UWM implemented furlough plans and took other measures to address budget shortfalls, faculty and staff did their best to address their students’ concerns. “I heard not one complaint, not one bit of resistance, as we all went home to our less-than-optimal workspaces and did our best for our students,” says Sara Benesh, associate professor and chair of political science. “It’s a testament to what I always knew about UWM faculty, but maybe isn’t always appreciated: We genuinely care for our students.” – Genaro C. Armas
MARCH 10
Public health concerns mount nationwide. UWM extends spring break by a week and temporarily moves classes online.
Health officials announce the first two confirmed COVID-19 cases in Milwaukee County.
MAY 12
MARCH 18
UWM moves classes online for the rest of the semester and limits access to campus buildings to essential employees.
Chancellor Mark Mone says UWM is looking at several options for the fall semester, including a mix of in-person and online classes.
WHAT STANDS OUT ABOUT THE SPRING SEMESTER?
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Joseph LeMire, chief, UWM Police, and co-incident commander of EOC
Arcetta Knautz, director, University Housing
Clark Evans, associate professor and chair, atmospheric science
Rachel Baum, senior lecturer, foreign languages and literature
“My spring has been long, fast and incredibly busy, built around planning for the safety of students, staff and faculty. Although we are all quite busy, we know it’s for the best interest of all of our community.”
“The housing move-out was a multifaceted juggling act with many layers and involving incredible collaboration among university teams.”
“The good in our humanity; commiserating with students that we feel their anxiety and isolation; finding joy and building community in new virtual ways; and generosity through giving.”
“A colleague working 15-hour days helping instructors move courses online. Another colleague working from her car because it was the only quiet she could find with kids at home.”
UWM ALUMNI SPECIAL EDITION
SUMMER 2020